Arsenal line up shock Djed Spence transfer after defender imprressed in Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup win over Gunners

ARSENAL are reportedly weighing up a January swoop for Nottingham Forest’s on-loan star Djed Spence.

The 21-year-old, who is on loan from fellow Championship side Middlesbrough, starred for Forest in their shock FA Cup victory against the Gunners last week.

Former Fulham academy ace Spence put in a man of the match display at the City Ground as he kept Gabriel Martinelli at bay during the 1-0 win.

And according to the Mirror, his impressive performance caught the eye of the North London giants.

They state that Arsenal are now eyeing up a move to secure his services as Mikel Arteta looks to bring in a right-back to compete with Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Calum Chambers is tied down at the Emirates until the end of the season, while question marks still remain over Portugal international Cedric Soares.

Meanwhile Hector Bellerin, who was shipped off to Real Betis on loan last summer, looks certain to depart on a permanent deal in the next transfer window.

It has been claimed that Boro would be prepared to part ways with Spence should they receive a fee in the region of £10million.

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The news outlet adds that there is a growing expectation that Arsenal could thrash out a deal to sign Spence this month.

However any move would have to be done on a loan back basis with Spence not allowed to feature for a third club this term having already played for Boro and Forest.

In addition to Arsenal, it has been reported how Southampton, Roma and Inter Milan are also keeping tabs on Spence.

Following his standout display against Arsenal, Ian Wright lauded the youngster, who has appeared in 23 games in all competitions this season.

Speaking on the Wrighty’s House podcast, he remarked: “I saw him after the game and said ‘listen, my friend. You’re on loan from Middlesbrough and I don’t know what’s happened there, because if you can’t get into the Middlesbrough side, I don’t know what’s wrong, so I need to know the full story’.

“But let me say, that was one of the best right-back performances I have seen for a very long time. A very long time.

“If we are talking about right-backs performing at an unbelievable level, we’re talking Reece James and Trent (Alexander-Arnold).

“But I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time.

“I said to him afterwards, ‘whatever’s happening, whatever you’re doing, the level you’ve just shown us here is the level you have to be consistently hitting, Djed’.”

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